Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay2011

I ran Ragnar again this year and had a fabulously, exhausting, mentally and physically draining experience. I was really super busy in June and didn't have any time for my mind to rest. With the kids out of school, I did my best to let them have fun. I was asked to give a talk in church, which I did well. Because I have a hard time getting in front of people, I decided to paint the front room, therefore taking up my time. more on that later. I went to girls camp the monday through friday before Ragnar, so I didn't get any sleep or training done. I got home, picked up the burb from my friend, went to get it decorated, went home to pack.
We left Friday morning at 10:30 and headed to Liberty, UT. I was runner 7 in Van 2. My legs of the race weren't that hard really, BUT, when you've had as little sleep as I did, and didn't get to train as hard as the year before, well, I did my best I could possibly do with the circumstances. I enjoyed the whole thing, was tired, crazy, silly, insane, sleepy, caught my second wind at the wrong times...and so on. I love my team, and they are absolutely supportive. They don't care if I can only run a 10min45sec mile. They are just glad I can finish my legs and help others. I tried to take a lot of pics and that happened the first day but not so much the second. Oh well. Enjoy!

Mohawks!!!

Stephen decided that the boys's hair was getting long enough for mohawks! So after school ended he pulled out the shears and cut shaved the heads of two really cute and adorable boys. I let them keep them until the day after Memorial Day. On Memorial Day, Stephen let the boys shave off his hair and Becks helped tidy it up for a mohawk. Enjoy the pics!

Did you U2?

U2. Need I say more? Thank you Stephen for a great birthday present!

Yikes!!! It's been awhile!

I participated in the Ogden Marathon Relay again this year, and I did better than I though I would. My leg was different this time, it was only 6 miles. I did my leg in 1 hour and 13 min. It may not seem much to you, but to me it does. I didn't train as hard during the winter because it seems I was always sick or the kids were. I felt great during this run. I just focused on moving my arms and legs and just going, nothing else. It was like I was just going to run until I couldn't. It was fun. Here are some pics of my team, not all of us together, but we tried. One of my friends ran the marathon and we got a pic with her-she's also on my Ragnar team. Yay!!!

I was happy and lucky to be able to do this. I loved it. I can't wait for next year. I will eventually finish the whole course.

Random things

O.K. M.C. broke his arm while Stephen was subbing in as coach for Dimples' soccer team. Becks was getting her team pics done while Starr was "watching" M.C. Yeah, that worked out really well. Half-way through the game, Starr brings M.C. over while shaking the broken arm and telling Stephen "he says it hurts when he moves it!" Yep, she did that. Stephen finished off the game, set Becks up with Starr for her team pics and game, then went to the clinic. We have the disk with the x-rays on it, but I'm not sure how to get those pics on here yet. Poor boy! He has a "Supracondylar fracture". I haven't got a clue what the exactly means, just that he did in fact break his arm somewhere near the growth plate. Dr. Bryan wants to see him one week after putting on the green cast...lets hope his arm will heal correctly!
I was running in this race while all of the above was happening. Great Mother's day gift!! just kidding, that wasn't my Mother's day gift. I didn't get one...not until Monday anyway. I needed a new ironing board and cover, a new shower curtain rod, and puff's tissues for our noses. (our noses that seem to run non-stop!)

This pic is of my birthday that I just celebrated! Tickets to a concert coming up very soon. I wish "U 2" could go with us! but I think the best gift was my own set of scriptures. I've never had my own, I always used my mom's old set or Stephen's. Yay!!! now I have my own, can't wait to put marks in them!OK, I think I'm all caught up. minus Easter pics, hiking pics, bountiful baskets, young women's activities...y'all know what its like, impossible to put it all on here.

Finally!!

So, so sorry, he he, I've been really busy and haven't had a chance to do any of this. UGH! anyway, here are the random pics I have of M.C. for his b-day several weeks ago. Man, where the heck does the time go? He's now 4 and life just seems to get crazier and crazier! Enjoy these random pics!

And here is one more photo group of "Starr"

Valentine's weekend hiking pics

Here is the herd of deer we saw. I believe there were 14, one could be questionable due to tree limbs but I'm pretty sure it's one because of the shadow on the ground.

This is the same herd, we just hiked down and out a bit, so it's a different angle as we left.

I never can get the pics and writing to match up, but you in the blog-a-sphere are smart people, you can figure it all out.

Sleeping

So I set Boy #2 up with lunch yesterday, went upstairs for a bit and came back down to see if he was ready to go with me to the store. This is what I found. (I couldn't resist running back up-stairs for my camera.)

I thought he was pretending at first, or trying to hide...



but no, he was really and truly sleeping! I couldn't believe it. He was supposed to eat his lunch, but he barely touched it. Well except to play in it.

I guess this is why he didn't eat his sandwich. I wouldn't be hungry if I ate all the brownies either.

And yes, I did move him to his bed to finish off his nap. Cute kid.

Day 9 11-09-2010

So today, I thought I'd do a vanity one. I'm mostly grateful that I have naturally curly hair. I can straighten it when I want or I can have it curly/wavy. When I was younger, I didn't really like it. I didn't appreciate it near enough. And even now I sometimes think to myself why do I have curly hair? (Usually after I have gone on a good run and my hair is all sweaty and I don't have time to wash it and make it straight.) I do enjoy it most of the time, especially when I can find a good mousse, gel and hairspray to work in my hair. I like it. I think having four kids may have taken some of the curl away, but now my gray/white hairs are growing in curly! Lucky me!

Days 6, 7 and 8!

Yes, I'm behind again.
Day 6 11-06-2010: I'm thankful for going up to Stephen's Grandpa's land in Idaho. We went up with the kids to initially work, but to play if there wasn't any work. Yep, we worked. A lot! The trees decided shed, so, we picked up after them. We made a fun-filled day of it by stopping at Gossners, Pepperidge Farms, and La Tienda on the way up. (I Love going to two of the three places.) We got there and Stephen cleaned out the shed while I worked on my Primary music stuffs. The kids all had to start raking up the leaves into piles. They did an okay job for being kids who normally don't have to do this. When I was finished, I joined them. Then Stephen joined us, he had two of the younger ones grab some huge buckets from the shed and they started filling them up with leaves. I had the best rake so I raked up more leaves in 45 mins than the kids did in an hour. It was good times I'm tellin' ya, Good. Times. Girl #1 had a friend with her and they both worked hard. By the time we were done, we needed to head home. We stopped at McD's for some burgers and saw a Momma dear with her baby. It was kinda cool. We then hit 7-eleven for slurpee's! It was a great day!!!!

Day 7 11-07-2010: Babies! My brother blessed his baby girl yesterday. It was so fun to see them and the other families. The blessing he gave was so nice and I'm sure little A-girl will be able to become what Heavenly Father wants her to be. But this isn't just about her, it's about babies in general. Saturday I was at a baptism and one of the Stake Presidency members was there. He is older, his kids are mostly grown and on their own, but there was a cute little baby that sat at his feet during the talks. The Stake Pres. member watched him for a bit, then picked him up just smiling the whole time he held the baby. It was interesting to me the way babies can turn the hardest of men and women into softies. It happens everywhere and all the time. I know how much they can change a persons life and a families. My good friends Amanda and Jared were able to adopt children and I have seen the wonderful changes in their lives. Stephen's cousin's adopted a baby girl and it has been world of difference for them. Babies are amazing! No matter how they enter your life!

Day 8 11-08-2010: Monday is Laundry Day! I know, it's the bane of some people's existence, and probably mine, but! I'm grateful to have clean clothes, bedding, towels, and whatever else you can wash and dry. My washer and dryer have gone on the fritz a few times lately and I'm glad for the handyman in my life, maybe even more so because I don't have to go to the laundromat! I know I will always have work in my home, because of laundry. I will never get bored here. Because I can watch a show or take care of other little things here at home while I'm getting the laundry done, then my house is clean for a bit. It's also a sign that I am always needed. I'm not so sure my hubby could get it done or that the kids wouldn't put in a brand new red shirt with the whites. I'm sure they could figure it out, but I'll only teach them about it and I'll still be the one to do. In fact I have taught the girls how to do this. They conveniently forget or don't have the time to help me out. Whatever, I know I have job security. I do like that they have to put their clothes away. That is prolly one of the best parts about it. Either I will seperate the loads once they are done or all of us will. Then, they have to put their stuff away. and I don't mean, thrown into the closet or drawers. Folded and/or hung up. Matched socks. folded underwear.
It feels so good once it's all done, I love the feeling.

Pumpkins and Halloween fun!!!

So what if it's a week late, I'm doing this anyway. The kids carved their pumpkins on Thursday and they had a fun time doing it. I ended up carving more than my fair share, but they had to clean all the guts out. Ha ha!

We celebrated Halloween on Saturday night by having a birthday party for my Grandma. She turned 83 on Halloween so we were a day early. It was a lot of fun to do this and the costumes were so much fun to see. We then visited with two other sets of Grandparents that day as is tradition in our little family. We went home and slept well that night. Since we didn't participate in the ward trunk or treat, and the kids didn't get very much candy when they did go out on my parents street, Stephen and I went to the grocery store and bought up 6 bags of candy and split it up evenly among the kids. Hopefully they have eaten it all by now and I can finish putting the Halloween stuff away! We hope everyone had a great Halloween and were able to enjoy themselves.

Haunted Dinosaur Park

On Friday night, we took the kiddo's to the Haunted Dinosaur Park. It was so much fun! The kids had a blast getting their costumes ready the entire day and they looked fabulous in them. We got to the park, waited in line for a bit, then off to view it at night. It was totally cool, and sometimes even scary if there were spiders. There were about 16 local companies who donated treats for the kids to trick-or-treat in different areas of the park. It was pretty amazing how it all worked out and looked great. There was a costume contest and I'm pretty sure the girls could have won if there weren't any younger, handsome firefighters in the line-up. (Yep, a cute little curly, blond-haired firefighter. He got our votes!) It was a fabulous time for our family. We have been wanting to do something together with just us. I loved it. We took pics of everything we could, some videos. All in all, it was a fabulous night ending with scones and hot chocolate later. I really love Halloween, the next best holiday there is next to Christmas!

I was truly surprised at how cute they all were, I mean that in the I-had-to-make-some-part-of-every-costume-way. (except for boy #2)
Girl #1 was Alice from Alice in Wonderland wearing the dress the Queen of Heart/Red Queen had made. I made this dress using an older costume as my base. I made 4 different tutu's-2 long and 2 short- with black tulle and red tulle. I found some white shear with black roses on it. Some rope for a belt. It worked out really well. It took me all day on Friday, but I believe it was all worth it.
Girl #2 wanted to be the White Queen from Alice in Wonderland. I was able to find a Heavenly Angel dress at a spook store and used the lace from the halo to make the choker. I purchased a cheap pearl necklace, cut 2 pieces and hot glued them to the lace and added some velcro. Some black eyebrows and super dark red lipstick and nail polish and some powder in her hair and she was almost ready. Stephen made the crown for her and they both hot glued some gems to it. It was amazing, I'm so glad I have him for a hubby!
Boy #1 wanted to be a ninja! Easy enough. Borrowed the basic stuff from a friend, wrapped black fabric to make it tight on his calves and made a belt for it. We used a head sock for helmets as his face covering. He looked so cool! Don't want to mess with this guy!
Boy #2 wanted to be a pumpkin. His was the easiest costume of all. I found it at the D.I. for $4. Easy peasy, nice and squeezy. I loved it. Put on a black turtleneck and some jeans and he was ready to go! Now they are ready for all sorts of parties and everything. And Halloween is still 2 weeks away! Oh life is good.

Blah....Just emptying out my thoughts

This post is sort of an update-y thing.
Thursday at Book Club we talked a little bit about Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. It is a really good book, but eh, I like romance in my adventure like books. This one lacked a little bit. It was still good, and I know I'll re-read it several times, and I would recommend it. We also had a baby shower for one of the girls in the club. She is having her first baby after having had some struggles, so I was so excited for her. She and her hubby will be great parents.
Friday, I got to take dinner to my Bro. and S.I.L. who had a baby a week ago. I was so excited to see her again. They have a blog, and it's on my list that I like to read, titled I need some Chocolate. Their little girl is so blasted cute, I could just hold her and hold her. I may be a little biased as she is my niece, but, ya know, so what. I took them some food from a delicious place. It was so yummy looking that I planned on ordering for Stephen and me later.

I took Boy #1 to soccer practice and then to Winco. I'm not sure you really can get the best savings there, but we'll see. I plan on getting an old grocery list and receipt together & shop at Winco to see if they're any better like most people believe. I'm not sure.
Anyway, I ordered some food, dropped Boy#1 off at home, and left to pick up the food. As I was pulling out of the driveway, my hubby showed up. We left, got the food, came home, got the kids settled, then we watched Sherlock Holmes. It was really good! I was worried that I might have been bored with watching it and fall asleep, but I didn't. I really enjoyed this movie.
Later!

13 Years!!!!

Yesterday we celebrated 13 years of marriage. It hasn't always been easy, but I don't believe we had more or harder problems than others, but we have always worked it out. Always. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing about this. Stephen and I met in high school, he was a grade older. We were just friends and didn't start dating until after I had graduated from high school. Our first date ever was a hike up waterfall canyon, it was also our second hike thankfully. (I didn't finish the first time due to work, lack of sleep and food. I did redeem myself with the second date.) Many more hikes and dates followed. I kinda wiped all the other girls from his memory, or at least blew them all out of the water.

We married two years later on the day of our first date. The ceremony was under his parents cherry tree. We were sealed on our one year anniversary, having Girl #1 sealed to us. Being sealed in the temple was the.best.decision.ever! Because of our sealing, we have made it through many things and I know that we will make it through all things. We have been given strength because of this decision.

He is my life. Because of him, I have been blessed with 4 wonderful children; I'm learning patience; to have an open mind and to consider things when I don't know the answer; to budget better; to be more compassionate to others because I don't know their circumstances; to love easier and better.

I have truly been blessed by the Lord. He has given me an incredible gift in my husband. I am truly grateful for all that we can do and accomplish. I love my husband. What more can I say?